Method and apparatus for contactless capturing and handling of spherical-shaped objects

1. For a restrained generally spherical object, a method of contactlessly capturing and transporting said generally spherical objects comprising the steps of: providing a tool having a diverging nozzle through which a gas flows, said diverging nozzle having an inlet aperture, an outlet aperture formed on an exterior side surface thereof and an interior sidewall which defines a generally frusto-conical shaped interior passageway through which said gas flows extending between said inlet and outlet apertures; and capturing said generally spherical object by repositioning said tool, relative to said restrained generally spherical object, from a first position to a second position where said generally spherical object is located at an equilibrium position relative to said diverging nozzle; wherein atmospheric pressure exerted on a first portion of said generally spherical object located at said equilibrium position is generally equal to an opposing pressure exerted on a second portion of said generally spherical object located at said equilibrium position by said flow of gas through said diverging nozzle.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a first portion of said generally spherical object is within said generally frusto-conical interior passageway of said diverging nozzle and a second portion of said generally spherical object is outside said diverging nozzle when said generally spherical object is located at said equilibrium position.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said first position is below said generally spherical object.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said first position is above said generally spherical object.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein said first position is to a first side of said generally spherical object.

6. The method of claim 2 and further comprising the step of: transporting said tool and said generally spherical object captured thereby to a destination; said generally spherical object remaining in said equilibrium position, relative to said diverging nozzle during transportation of said tool to said destination.

7. The method of claim 6 and further comprising the step of: releasing said captured generally spherical object by increasing the rate of said flow of gas through said diverging nozzle until said generally spherical object is driven from said equilibrium position.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said generally spherical shaped object is a spherical-shaped semiconductor integrated circuit.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said first location of said spherical-shaped semiconductor integrated circuit is within a transport tube or other component of a spherical-shaped semiconductor integrated circuit manufacturing system and wherein said spherical-shaped semiconductor integrated circuit is initially restrained by a fluid flow within said transport tube or other component of said spherical-shaped semiconductor integrated circuit.